ReadingThePlay

Love your NRL? NRL tips, professional analysis, data-driven insights and expert previews. Season Pass Offer ↘️ 9dqqkw.short.gy/savenrl

Update on the V’Landys vs TTR defamation case, for those following along. Huge thanks to everyone for their support, we have an interesting few weeks coming up!

Round 9 NRL REAL LADDER. #NRL #NRLLADDER #NRLREALLADDER

@andy_andy_aus @ReadingThePlay It has been happening gradually for years now, Andy. I think it's just passed a threshold beoynd which people can no longer squint and pretend it's the same game they've always watched.

@ReadingThePlay This was the post I’ve been waiting to read. Lifelong rugby league watcher here and this is the first year I’ve hardly watched a full game. Sometimes it’s on in the background but it’s so hard to watch it’s like it’s a completely different game now. They have stuffed it up sadly

So here’s the elephant in the room. 🐘 Was told this week by someone who works in the tv media space that the drop off of viewers in the final 30 to 40 mins of #NRL telecasts each week now significant, and in some instances at alarming levels. The blow out results and touch footy shit style of game turning people off, literally. All for one more try and tv commercial more on average than last yr. Major concern for both media opps is that in many instances a game is a lead into a major revenue show (like news bulletin or Matt Johns Show, etc) and so they in now so many instances they also now getting big drop off numbers. Getting 9 tries a game and a few more commercials won’t mean jack shit in the future if the second half of your coverage is in free fall and your audience lead ins to key network shows plummeting. We’ve let the tv and NRL game execs break down the original, traditional fabric of the game.

@ReadingThePlay The average winning score this round was 34 points.. 34 And the Dragons had the bye. That tells the story right there. “Sports Entertainment”..

Can someone tell me how Staggs gets two matches for an insignificant (but yes stupid) elbow to the back of the head but Victor torpedoes the crown of his head into Carrigan’s chin and doesn’t even get cited?

@a_eugol Unbelievable.

Chris Butler is in The Bunker Ahhh...that explains it. #NRLPanthersManly #NRL

@ReadingThePlay @niest @WSWanderingEels Gerard you were one of the "early responders" and you are right about the blow out scores being bad for the game. It's only common sense that viewership drops off when your team is getting flogged. How many Wests Tigers fans saw that out! Very few I expect!

@WymanLawre92008 @joedavola76 @RheinbergerJohn @NRL and indeed exposes everything with what is going on. A game management who couldn’t give a fark about the original integrity or fabric of the game, bending over for the tv and gambling dollar.

@joedavola76 @RheinbergerJohn @ReadingThePlay @NRL bro stop 💀🔥

Oh I think we are one the same page. I think the balance of what we had at the end of last year was fine, and a good compromise. And we saw some great absorbing footy. Now we have a) added an extended zone for set restarts (deliberate) and b) directed the refs influence. What’s unfolded this year imo just wasn’t needed.

@ReadingThePlay I take your point G, but do we want a 4-2 GF again. Ryan Warren brought defense to the fore in the 1980's & I can attest there were plenty of forgetful games. The Semi Finals we had last year was one for the ages. I know the 6 agains are a blight, but it's better than the wrestle

Can you imagine a conversation with some of the original #Knights like Allan McMahon or Malcolm Reilly of an 80 point Knights game at home, and leaking 38 points..

@SunCoastGunrBaz Cheers Baz 😎 🍻

@ReadingThePlay This is good non dogs related content Gerard

@ReadingThePlay I am one of them. From watching every game not even watching full games now.

@SrSittingBull The broadcasters love this glorified touch footy shite but the betting companies are definitely not fans

@MCruicky So so way off at the moment mate.

How are people even mentioning AFB as he is a walk up start to origin. He like all the Sharks forwards back into the defence, run with zero impact or power. As a Sharks fan it’s so hard to watch them run with little to no purpose, speed, or aggression. Such a passive side atm #NRL

Defence coaches in the PVL ball era #NRL

@BunnyBrethren Love your work BB. 🥂

Congratulations Knight’s fans! Great game, great win. We’ll get ya next time.